Westerners are more open minded.
Is that true?
Well... based on my encounters...
It really depends.
First we need to realize that MANY westerners don't travel. They have large countries and they don't need to travel to Asia or other parts of the world.
So IF we meet a westerner in Asia, it's really anecdotal. Cos they are actually the outliers and likely more worldly than other folks in their country.
Next, we also need to see what country or cities we are looking at.
So if we look at the more modern cities, San Frans, New York, London, Paris... you know... the cities that are presented on TV and the big screen...
Well... then once again, the data is biased.
People from these cities tend to be more educated and are exposed to many other ideas and are also more accepting to different lifestyles and cultures.
HOWEVER, these cities are not reflective of the western population at large.
We might believe that certain lifestyles would be more acceptable in western society.
But really, that's not true.
For instance...
Early retirement... or homosexuality, or race issues, or sexism...
These issues still prevail in many western regions.
Even in the US, it's not easy being unemployed. People ask questions. What are you doing? Why are you not working? etc...
The idea that everyone must work is still very much alive.
When I was in Paris, there's still the expectation of male chivalry. Females are still treated as the fairer sex and males are expected to open doors and do the heavy work.
As much as homosexuals are accepted in major cities, there are many other cities and folks who are not as receptive of such an idea.
If it were so easy, then why do homosexuals have issues "coming out" to their friends and family?
Thing is... it isn't easy. Homosexuality is not as accepted as what it's portrayed to be.
It's like... scenery.
We look from afar at a snowy landscape or a forest scene.
And it always looks so beautiful. The view is so nice.
But when we actually go to the location when we're at the snowy location, it's typically wet and muddy.
The forest is dirty and filled with bugs and insects and overgrown plants.
When we see a westerner in Asia... there's this perception that they are so "free to live their own lives", and so independent, they don't have societal expectations, etc...
Well... you see, when you're halfway across the world, thousands of miles from your friends and family... it really is a lot easier to "live their own lives", and "not have any societal expectations", and it pretty much is necessary to be independent.
Similarly, if we leave Singapore, and move to a country, halfway across the world.
It's a lot easier to "be free to live our own lives" without having to care about what your friends and family think about you. The distance makes a lot of difference.
However, IF you are a westerner and grow up in the west, with friends and family all around you. You'll also have societal expectations.
People will comment when you're going to have a girlfriend/boyfriend, when you're going to get married, when you're going to have kids.
People will comment if you are unemployed, or have differing sexual orientation.
It's pretty much is similar. Same same but different...
So it really depends on how lucky one is, to be born in the right city, or the right family.
Cos in the end, it really is similar.
I don't find the local westerners any more open minded than many Singaporeans.
In fact, many Singaporeans are more worldly than most Westerners. Cos we live in a small country so we tend to HAVE to leave the country when we go on vacation.
Whereas many westerners don't even need to leave the country and they end up just travelling around their own country for most of their lives.
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